Writing - Useful Words and Phrases - FCE

Writing - useful words and phrases - FCE 

Writing - useful words and phrases - FCE Candidates are expected to be able to write non-specialised text types such as an article, an essay, a letter, an email, a report or a review. Here you can find some useful words and  phrases for each of these text types.

Essay  Making points ints Many people feel that ...

It is clear from the facts that ...

First and foremost, ... It is widely believed that ...

The benefits of disadvantages.

It would be ideal if ...

On the whole, I think ...

...

outweigh

the

Another argument in favour is ...

C ontrasti ntrasti ng poi nts nts On the other hand ...

I find it hard to see why ...

Other people think ...

I certainly don't believe that ...

An opposing argument is ...

It is difficult to believe that ...

Giving opinions

I object to the cloning of animals.

I personally feel that ...

Organisi Or ganising ng and linki li nking ng your your i deas First of all, … Secondly, … In addition, … Moreover, … Furthermore, …

However, … On the one hand…/On the other hand …

So … As a result, … Therefore, …

On the whole … While it is true to say … Finally, … To summarise, … In conclusion

Article H eadi ng / Title Ti tle Freezing! (dramatic) My Lone Walk to the North Pole (a summary) What’s the big idea? (a question) You’re already well equipped to prevent crime (surprising)

Opening Did you know …?

What would you do if …?

General Structure 

Give your article a heading or headline which makes the subject clear and also catches the reader’s attention.

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Divide the article into paragraphs to help the reader follow the argument.

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Begin with an interesting introduction –  introduction  –  an  an example, perhaps, or a question.

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End with an overall comment or concluding.

Writing - useful words and phrases - FCE 

Informal letter Dear (first name), Dear (first name), or  Hi (first name) (for informal e-mails)

Beginnings Thank you/Many thanks for your (recent/last) letter/postcard. It was good/nice to hear from you recently. I’m sorry I haven’t written/been in touch for such a long time. It’s ages since I’ve heard from you. I hope you’re/you and your family are well.

 Asking Hi! / How are the things? / How are you? / How’s it going?

Referring to their news Great news about … Glad to hear that … Sorry to hear about …

Giving news Listen, did I tell you about …? You’ll never believe what … Oh, and another thing … This is just to let you know that … I thought you might be interested to hear about/know that … By the way, have you heard about/did you k now that …

 Apologies I’m writing to apologise for missing your party but I’m afraid I was with flu. I’m really sorry that I forgot to send you a birthday card but I was busy with my new  job. If you let me know where you bought it/how much it cost I’ll glad ly pay for it/replace it. Please let me know how much the bill is and I’ll gladly pay it.

I nvitations I’m/We’re having a party on Friday 19th and I/we hope you’ll be able to come. Would you like to come/go to see ‘Room With a View’ with me at the we ekend. I was wondering if you’d like to go to the theatre/come on holiday with us? Could you let me/us know if you can come/you’d like to join us? Thank you very much for your invitation. I’d love to come. Thank you for asking/inviting me to … but I’m afraid I won’t be able to …

Requests I’m writing to ask for your help/you (if you could do me) a favour. I wonder if/I was wondering if you could help me/do me a favour. I hope you don’t mind me asking but could you (possibly) …? I’d be very/really/terribly grateful if you could …

Thank you / Congr atulations / Good Luck  I’m writing to thank you for your hospitality/the wonderful present. It was so kind of you to invite me to stay with you. I really appreciated all your help/advice.

Writing - useful words and phrases - FCE 

Congratulations on passing your exams/your excellent exam results! I wish you good luck/Good luck in/with your exams/your driving test/your interview. Don’t worry, I’m sure you’ll do well/pass.

 Making suggestions and recommend  Why don’t you …? Maybe you could …? How about …? You can’t leave New York without doing sth I’m sure you will enjoy doing sth If you like, we can … Do visit (somewhere). Don’t forget to (do sth) (ImperativeStrong Recommendation) I’m told that … People say that … (If you heard sth is good)

E ndings Give my love/regards to … Say hello to … Hope to hear from you soon. See you soon! Write soon. Once again, thank you for all your help.

 Signing off  Love, Lots of love, All the best, Best wishes, +First name Remember that in informal letters we use: 

Informal vocabulary, including phrasal verbs ‘go on’ instead of ‘continue

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Simpler sentence structure I’ll be late for the party. It’s because of my French exam.

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Punctuation using exclamation marks (don't overuse it) If you’d been at the wedding, you’d have loved the food!

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Contractions I've just heard you've been to...

Writing - useful words and phrases - FCE 

Formal letter Dear Mr/Ms (surname) - Dear Sir/Madam - Dear Sir or Madam,

Reason for writing I am writing to … I am writing with regard to … I am writing on behalf of …

 Asking questions I would be grateful if … I wonder if you could … Could you …? Could you tell me something about …? I would particularly like to know … I would be interested in having more details about …

Referr ing to their letter  As you stated in your letter, … Regarding … Concerning … With regard to …

Complaining I am writing to complain about … You said … but in fact what happened … We were supposed to stay with British families whereas we actually stayed in a guest house.

Closing If you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact me. I look forward to hearing from you. Please contact me if you have any further questions.

 Signing off  Yours sincerely, (If you started with 'Dear + surname') or Yours faithfully, (If you started with 'Dear Sir/Madam') First name + surname Remember that in formal letters we use 

Formal vocabulary, usually not using phrasal verbs ‘Tolerate’ instead of ‘put up with’

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More complex sentence structure Knowing what a good reputation the restaurant has, I was disappointed with the service.

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Punctuation using semi-colons The library offers no facilities for borrowing videos; this is because of the high cost involved.

Writing - useful words and phrases - FCE 

Letter of application Dear Mr/Ms (surname), Dear Sir/Madam/Sir or Madam,

Reason for writing I am writing to apply for the post/position of … as advertised in … I am writing with reference/in response to your advertisement, which I saw … I am writing in connection with your advertisement in the Daily Star on May 11th … With reference to your advertisement …

E xperience / Qualifications / CV  I gained some experience while … I am currently working as … I have been working for … for the last four years. I worked part-time for three years as … At the moment I am employed by … My qualifications include … I have a diploma in … I graduated from Barcelona University last year wit h a degree in … Please find attached my CV As you can see from the attached CV …

E ndings Please do not hesitate to contact me if/should you require further information. I look forward to hearing from you. I am available for interview at your convenience. I shall be available for interview any day apart from Wednesdays.

 Signing off  (If Dear + surname) Yours sincerely, (If Dear Sir/Madam) Yours faithfully, First name + surname

Writing - useful words and phrases - FCE 

Report I ntroduction The aim/purpose of this report is to consider/suggest/... This report is intended to... I summarise below / Below is a summary of the most important relevant points as well as some recommendations.

Reporting results Most people seem to feel that... Several peo ple said/told me/suggested/thought that…

 Making recommendations I would therefore recommend that we expand the library/installing a new coffee machine... It would seem that banning mobile phones is the best idea. Having considered the options, … I would like to suggest/recommend … I therefore suggest/recommend … You may wish to consider …

Writing - useful words and phrases - FCE 

DOs: 

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Before you start writing... read others . Make use of every text that you find interesting, note out words and expressions that you like or find useful. Even if you know them. Words and expressions have a mysterious tendency to slip your mind the moment you need them most. Sometimes it is good to copy the whole sentence in which an expression you know from different context appears. Have a list of your favourite expressions   - the ones you are entirely sure of as far as their correctness is concerned, and which you will always remember. It is better to put down something less lofty but correct than wrestle under time pressure with your own memory, wondering how this 'stupid thing went'. Always keep in mind who your target reader is . Even if you know that your 'letter to a friend' will be read by an examiner... write to a friend. If you have problems with determining the potential addressee of your writing, assume that he or she is an educated  person in his/her thirties. But usually it is indicated in the task. Make your writing interesting . Put yourself in the reader's shoes. Would you fancy reading boring stuff? Use linking words to form paragraphs and join your ideas   in a logical way. They make reading easier, which counts a lot if your piece is longer. Be careful with pronouns . They are tiny and look innocent, but can cause a lot of commotion. DO write!  As much and as often as you can. Make yourself mock tests - with time restrictions and word limits. Do not worry if you forget some words and get stuck - better now (when you still have the chance to look these words up in a dictionary), than during the exam.

DON’Ts:  

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Do not panic! Do not forget that you are writing, not speaking . What would go in a friendly chat, will not work with writing. Do not forget that you write to communicate something, not to practice cali graphy. If certain fragments of your essay do not convey any relevant message, cut them out. Unnecessary wordiness shows that you have problems with controlling your language. Do not ask your reader to read your mind. You are the one who knows. If you do not mention something in your essay, it is not there. Avoid line-lifting. It means that you should not repeat the sentences used to set the task. Do not write very long sentences , unless you are perfectly sure how to punctuate them. Do not try to impress your reader with vocabulary. Do not use words you don't know . Do not scribble! If your reader struggles to decipher your handwriting, do not expect him or her to focus on the content.